Discovery and structure–activity relationships of small molecules that block the human immunoglobulin G–human neonatal Fc receptor (hIgG–hFcRn) protein–protein interaction

The neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn, prolongs the half-life of IgG in the serum and represents a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of autoimmune disease. Small molecules that block the protein–protein interactions of human IgG–human FcRn may lower pathogenic autoantibodies and provide effective treatment. A novel class of quinoxalines has been discovered as antagonists of the IgG:FcRn protein–protein interaction through optimization of a hit derived from a virtual ligand-based screen.     

The effect of sedimentation and microbial nitrogen regeneration in a plankton community: a simulation investigation

A computer simulation model was developed to investigate nitrogenfluxes associated with microbial interactions in plankton communities.A short time scale was used, appropriate to the build-up anddecline of phytoplankton blooms in temperate shelf waters aftera mixing or upwelling event. The model depicts a continuum ofevents, many of which have been observed in coastal, upwellingand oceanic systems, including two phytoplankton peaks correspondingto ‘new production’ and ‘regenerated production’.It predicts that nitrogen loss through sedimentation of phytoplanktonand faeces may result in a smaller bloom with a delayed onsetand prolonged duration. Microbial regeneration of nitrogen wasfound to be important in sustaining the middle stages of a phytoplanktonbloom, whereas micro- and meso-zooplankton regeneration occurredtowards the end of the bloom.     

Cl- transport in apical plasma membrane vesicles isolated from bovine tracheal epithelium

Gradually altered synthetic entities were employed as molecular probes, and arachidonic acid, ADP, human alpha-thrombin and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 as aggregation-inducing agents, in a comprehensive study on the response profile of human blood platelets with an emphasis on the effects of exogenous and increased intracellular Ca2+. Corroborating further previous conclusions, some representative carbamoylpiperidine derivatives, at concentrations effecting substantial inhibition of ADP-induced aggregation, failed to retain that effect when 5.0 mM Ca2+ was introduced into the otherwise identical test medium; reference compounds chlorpromazine and propranolol registered corresponding inhibitory patterns. At increased concentrations the compounds' inhibitory potency was regenerated even in the presence of 5 mM Ca2+. In fact, in sufficiently high concentrations, the compounds were even capable of inhibiting aggregation elicited by 15 microM of the ionophore A23187; so did chlorpromazine and propranolol. Another set of congeners revealed the striking sensitivity of ionophore A23187-induced human blood platelet aggregation to the surface active potencies of inhibitor molecules. The loss in inhibitory potency was directly related to the lesser hydrophobic character of the molecule.     

Thermal sensitivity of scope for activity in Pagothenia borchgrevinki, a cryopelagic Antarctic nototheniid fish

The thermal sensitivity of scope for activity was studied in the Antarctic nototheniid fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki. The scope for activity of P. borchgrevinki at 0°C was 189 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ (factorial scope 6.8) which is similar to that of temperate and tropical species at their environmental temperatures, providing no evidence for metabolic cold adaptation of maximum activity. The scope for activity increased to a maximum value of 266 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ (factorial scope 8.3) at 3°C and then decreased from 3 to 6°C. The thermal sensitivity of critical swimming speed was also investigated and followed a similar pattern to aerobic scope for activity, suggesting oxygen limitation of aerobic performance. Oxygen consumption rates and ventilation frequencies were monitored for 24 h after the swimming challenge and the recovery of both parameters to resting levels was rapid and independent of temperature.